Offseason trade winds blow in favor of Giants

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, May 31, 2012

Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press

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San Francisco Giants' Melky Cabrera waves his helmet to fans after hitting a single off Arizona Diamondbacks' Bryan Shaw in the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in San Francisco. Cabrera broke the Giants hit record for May with the hit, previously held by Willie Mays. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) less

San Francisco Giants' Melky Cabrera waves his helmet to fans after hitting a single off Arizona Diamondbacks' Bryan Shaw in the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in San Francisco. Cabrera ... more

Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press

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Former San Francisco Giant Jonathan Sanchez is now a Kansas City Royal. The Oakland Athletics take on the Kansas City Royals in major league baseball action at the O.Co Coliseum on Wednesday April 11, 2012, in Oakland, Ca. less

Former San Francisco Giant Jonathan Sanchez is now a Kansas City Royal. The Oakland Athletics take on the Kansas City Royals in major league baseball action at the O.Co Coliseum on Wednesday April 11, 2012, in ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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San Francisco Giants' Angel Pagan turns to check the call after sliding to score against the Oakland Athletics during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 18, 2012, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) less

San Francisco Giants' Angel Pagan turns to check the call after sliding to score against the Oakland Athletics during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 18, 2012, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben ... more

Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press

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San Francisco Giants right fielder Gregor Blanco catches Arizona Diamondbacks, Ryan Roberts deep fly ball for the final out in the ninth inning of their MLB baseball game Monday May 28, 2012 at AT&T Park in San Francisco California. Giants won 4-2. less

San Francisco Giants right fielder Gregor Blanco catches Arizona Diamondbacks, Ryan Roberts deep fly ball for the final out in the ninth inning of their MLB baseball game Monday May 28, 2012 at AT&T Park in San ... more

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

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MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 22: Joaquin Arias #13 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on May 22, 2012 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) less

MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 22: Joaquin Arias #13 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on May ... more

Photo: Mike McGinnis, Getty Images

Offseason trade winds blow in favor of Giants

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Jonathan Sanchez, who has a 6.75 ERA and failed to last six innings in any of his six starts, has been on the disabled list for 3 weeks with biceps tendinitis.

Andres Torres, who strained his left calf in the season opener and missed 21 games, is hitting .213 - .125 since May 13.

Fifteen years later, the Giants again rebuilt half the lineup with players acquired from the outside over the offseason: Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, Gregor Blanco and Joaquin Arias. Cabrera (from the Royals for Sanchez) and Pagan (from the Mets for Torres and Ramon Ramirez) are at the heart of the lineup, sandwiched around Buster Posey to form a 3-4-5 punch of .300 hitters.

"Great trades for us," said manager Bruce Bochy, applauding general manager Brian Sabean, Bobby Evans and Co. "You're talking about the three hitter and five hitter right now. Those are two spots you usually don't get in trades. We were able to do that."

Furthermore, Blanco (a hidden treasure recommended by the same Johnson mentioned above, now a Giants scout) and Arias went from signing minor-league contracts to becoming major-league producers, Blanco as the leadoff hitter and Arias as the third baseman who'll likely play second once Pablo Sandoval returns.

Sanchez and Torres peaked in 2010, never coming statistically close before or after. They went to Kansas City and New York, hoping for career boosts, but struggled on the field and with their health - like 2011 more than 2010.

This was to be a year the Giants' homegrown talent dominated the lineup, but for now, it's about players coming from elsewhere, not just those from within.

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